In the Vanderbilt, Imperial Hint carried the field’s 124-pound highweight under Hall of Famer Javier Castellano, who confidently guided the 5-year-old through a wide charge in the turn and wrapped up on Imperial Hint under the wire. Imperial Hint’s winning time of 1:08.98 for six furlongs was .94 seconds off Speightstown‘s track record set in the 2004 Vanderbilt.

Sal’s

Sal says if you’re looking for a reason to open up your pocket book at the 2017 CTHS Alberta sale look no further than the Century Mile and its prospects for improved thoroughbred racing in the province of Alberta.

Phil has no idea what Sal’s deal was but Phil will honour Sal’s deal for the 2018 CTHS Alberta Sale.

Send your yearling photos to ps@holybull.ca and Phil will post them with a link to their catalogue page.

You better cut the pizza in four pieces because I’m not hungry enough to eat six.

Yogi Berra

Racing takes so much determination, guts, and sacrifice to be on top. I once craved, lived, and breathed racing. I can honestly say now, I’m ready to slow down and enjoy my life. Maybe I’ll cut loose and have a cheeseburger or some pizza. Those types of indulgences are not allowed when you constantly have to monitor your weight.

Chantal Sutherland

Hating the Yankees is as American as pizza pie, unwed mothers, and cheating on your income tax.

Sylvester Stallone, Jean-Claude Van Damme, and Arnold Schwarzenegger were sitting together in a bar, kicking back, drinking a few brews, talking about life and talking about the roles they’d played in movies.

As the three men talked, each was surprised to realize that all three of them had grown tired of playing the action hero almost as tired as we did of watching them. The whole scene was just all played out for them and us.

By chance, Stallone had a script with him that his agent had given to him as kind of a joke. The script was about three actors acting out the role of their favorite musical composer. The three men were delighted, “This is great! Nobody would ever expect this from us! Let’s do it!” And so the agreement was made. Soon, a big budget studio was attached to the project, Tim Burton signed on to direct, Casey Jones signed on to conduct; everything was falling into place.

On the day of the first pre-production meeting, the actors realized they needed to pick parts. Since Stallone had proposed the idea, he got to choose first. After thinking for a minute, he declared: “I want to respect my heritage so I want to be Puccini.”

Next, it was Van Damme’s turn. He thought for a moment, then declared: “I want to respect my heritage as well so I want to play van Maldere.”

Finally, it was Arnold Schwarzenegger’s turn. With No Hesitation Schwarzenegger declared: “I’ll be Bach.”

It’s easy to play any musical instrument: all you have to do is touch the right key at the right time and the instrument will play itself.

Johann Sebastian Bach

Zinn and his wife, Dolores, had been drowning in debt from bad real estate investments. Surprise, surprise, the widow is gorgeous — and possibly lethal. “She had the level interest in something new that a leopard has. While it decides whether you can be killed or not, its eyes are remarkably gentle and serene.” Still, Marlowe is instantly smitten. He fantasizes about whisking her around a dance floor, preferably to “Begin the Beguine.”

For those naive Albertans who vote PC by rote hoping that Jason Kenney and his UPCs will do the same thing remember that Jason Kenny was part of the Harper government that unleashed another 30 hogs to feed at the Federal trough.

How many asylum seekers would trickle into Canada if they were given the same opportunities that many of our grandparents and great-grandparents had when they settled the prairies.

Under the Dominion Lands Act, the following requirements had to be met within the first three years of homesteading:

reside on the land for at least three years, and for at least six months during each of those three years;

construct a dwelling of a minimum size of 18′ x 24′. The first homes of many settlers were tar-paper, log, or sod shacks (whatever material was readily available), of the minimum size;

cultivate a specified number of acres. The number of acres changed over time, but ranged between 15 and 50 acres. Oxen were the favored animal to assist with breaking and cultivating the land. While this may not sound like too large a task, it must be remembered that, in order to till the land, all rocks and stones had to be removed, any trees cut down, and stumps removed. Motorized farm equipment was rare in those days. In some areas of Canada, there were enough stones to form dividing lines along the edges of the fields, when moved from the fields! Clearing the land for cultivation was a daunting task;

plant a further 10 to 30 acres of crops (again, the number of acres varied at different times);

Phil was gonna thank Hawthorne Sal for subbing for Phil while Phil was convalescing in The Monster Hospital until Phil noticed this little tidbit in one of Sal’s posts.

Sal was wondering if this is the symbol once known as Phil after he got lambasted by the Battersea omnibus.

The image and the words don’t bother Phil as much as the lame link to some stupid cartoon video. Phil would have expected a link to a decent toon.

Phil does appreciate Sal’s message to the jiggies:

Until the jiggies agree to start negotiations by giving the 5% that was stolen from the thoroughbreds in 2015 back to the thoroughbreds then Sal says:

With the QKB leaving Horse Racing Alberta the jiggie advantage should now be history.

Phil says that the jiggies’ concerns about the business going forward mentioned in Peter Watts July 16 Hoofprints will be without their Patronage Saint running the show at Horse Racing Alberta. Phil expects the jiggie whining to reach crescendo over the next few months so let’s hope that the new Chair and CEO of Horse Racing Alberta let the wheels squeak as much as they want without getting greased. Horse Racing Alberta should follow Manitoba and Iowa and send the jiggies to the bushes where they belong.

Speaking of getting greased Phil heard a rumour that Jim Reid is working behind the scenes at Track on 2.

Even though Phil’s sorta back both Phil and Sal have other fish to fry, Sal’s usually on Fridays. Expect only a few posts and all of the announcements sent to Phil by Northlands Park, Horse Racing Alberta and ATOBA. So in other words expect only a few posts and the odd announcement sent to Phil by HBPA Alberta and CTHS Alberta.

Speaking of ATOBA after Phil checked out Sal’s archives Phil went to ATOBA’s site to check and see who ATOBA is.

Phil has a question:

Why couldn’t Phil find the Directors and Officers of ATOBA listed on their website.

What does an ATOBA membership get you.

What does ATOBA have to hide.

Does thoroughbred racing in Alberta need another organization digging their hands into the owners’ pockets just to provide a position for the Preacher.

Speaking of lists Phil will in Phil’s sole discretion publish any and all Top 10 lists of tasks, ideas, plans and suggestions for the New CEO and Chair of Horse Racing Alberta to improve thoroughbred Racing in the province of Alberta.

One Response to “Can Phil Have His Flat Back”

1. MINISTER CECI emails me on the appointment of the HRA CHAIRMAN before the announcement came out. Has anyone seen a picture of GIL in HRA / Standardbred Canada website. Maybe Northlands will provide him with a name tag on derby day/ the VOICE without a face.

2. GIL got a 140k severance package when he left AGLC what did TENILE receive from HRA?

3. The HRA powers to be/CHAIRMAN/CEO/CFO got NO pay raise in 2017 but ran a $1.2 million deficit from a $1million surplus in 2016. I’m glad they didn’t for that winning performance!!!

4. Projected revenue of the mile of $45 million versus NORTHLANDS $23 million is a positive step for the future but it won’t trickle down until 2020. how many small trainers/owners will leave the game?

5. To the owners parking lot note artist, a good effort, but the apathy in the industry is at a all-time low. Like the Alberta total betting taking a hit of $10 million from $120 million/16 to $110 million/17 with tenile and her abacus predicting $200 million in her 2015-2017 business plan/MISFIRE???

6. HRA financials came out before JULY 1,2018. When is NORTHLANDS $5 million loss in 2017 with horse racing making $$$$ finally coming out, never after city $47 million loan write down!!!